Hitting the beach, golf course or bingo hall 24/7 is no longer a golden years’ norm. According to survey sponsored by Merrill Lynch, 72 percent of pre-retirees want to keep working in retirement. And 47 percent of current retirees are either still working, have worked or plan to go back to work in retirement. Many do so to stay mentally active (62 percent), though other often cited reasons for continuing to punch the clock include staying physically active (46 percent), maintain social connections (42 percent), sense of self-worth (36 percent) and making money (31 percent).
For whatever reason, if you’d like to join the throngs of post-retirement employees, consider the following jobs that offer flexible hours, time for travel and more.
Blogger – If you love to write and are passionate about a topic that interests others, blogging could be an excellent post-retirement part-time job. Computer skills are must, including the use of WordPress or another blogging platform. An interest in learning about search engine optimization is also helpful, as you’ll need to use SEO tactics to drive traffic to your posts.
You won’t earn money just by writing blog posts. You’ll need to generate income streams by building a steady following and selling ad space on your page. You can also sell merchandise or affiliate products.
Bookkeeper – If you’re good with numbers, and have training or relevant experience in accounting, a part-time bookkeeping job may be your perfect post-retirement job option. Your hours may vary depending on your employer’s needs. If you work as a contractor, you may only need to put in a couple weeks each month to take care of invoicing and bill paying. Other potential duties include producing financial reports, collections and overseeing audits.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, bookkeepers earn from $21,610 to more than $54,310 depending on qualifications, geographic location, employer, and hours worked.
Home-Care Aide – If you’re physically able to help elderly, ill or disabled individuals with their everyday activities, you might be able to find a post-retirement part-time job as a home-care aide. These professionals assist their clients with bathing and dressing, housework, grocery shopping, meal preparation and more. While some employers require a certification as a nursing assistant, you may be able to skip the middleman and find work directly with a needy client.
Hours vary, and pay, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, usually ranges from $7.91 to $13.34 per hour.
Medical Assistant – If you like the idea of working in healthcare but would prefer to stick to the administrative side of things, consider a post-retirement part-time job as a medical assistant. Duties typically include answering phones, scheduling appointments, checking in patients and verifying insurance. Some assistants even get the opportunity to assist doctors with medical records and procedures such as recording vital signs and collecting specimens.
Some employers conduct training on the job, though a certificate from a medical assistant program can be helpful. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average pay is $14.12 per hour, though it may be higher or lower depending on your experience, geographic location and employer.
